The Dolphins had another strong showing for the third week in a row led by the relentless defense. Their fierce hits caught the Bills off guard from the get go and even caused a few turnovers which is just further evidence of Buffalo’s once promising season is slipping away.
The Fish set up two touchdowns with interceptions and wound up crushing the Bills on the road with a score of 35-8. Dolphins Quarterback Matt Moore is proving more and more as the season continues to be more of an asset, rather than a liability as most of us thought when original starter Chad Henne went down.
After losing their first seven games, Miami (3-7) have had three consecutive victories for the first time since the ’08 season; outscoring all three opponents by a combined 66 points (86-20). The defense is leading the way by keeping the opposition out of the end zone for the three straighit victories.
“You can see how good we can be,” said Dolphin safety Yeremiah Bell, who made an interception in today W. “This is where we expected to be at the beginning of the season. It just took a while.”
Heading in the opposite direction are the Bills now 5-5 and have lost three in a row and have been outscored by a jaw dropping 106-26.
“We’re baffled as to what has happened,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “For the past three weeks, it has not been fun to play, and I’m sure it has not been fun to watch.”
To make matters even worse for the injury riddled Bills, they lost NFL rushing leader Fred Jackson in the third quarter with a bruised right calf. They also lost receiver Donald Jones and cornerback Terrence McGee, who were carted off in the 2 quarter of today’s game.
The Fish secondary had two interceptions on the day, both turnovers leading to touchdowns. “I wouldn’t want to play against our defense,” Miami receiver Brandon Marshall said. “It seems like every time the ball was in the air, there was a big hit.
The Fifth and final TD came on a blocked punt by Chris Clemons, which Lex Hilliard recovered on the goal line increasing the lead to 35-6. The score on the block punt was the first for Miami since the 1990 season.
Goal-line stand came halfway through the second half, when the Dolphins stopped the Bills four consecutive times at Miami’s two yard line.
Miami started out hot from the get-go scoring touchdowns on each of their first three possessions of the game. Moore threw seldom for the rest of the game and finished 14 for 20 for 160 yards, and a passer rating at an astonishing 133.3.
“Guys around me are making big plays and making it easy for the quarterback,” Moore said, “It’s such a good feeling.”
Fitzpatrick has been disappointing since signing his $59 million contract, having yet to win a game since the six-year extension last month. Against the Dolphins he had a passer rating at a dismal 45.8. He has also had 12 turnovers in his last six games.
Jackson was held to 17 yards on just seven carries for the game and going 0 for 14 on third and fourth down conversions. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been through that before, ever,” coach Chan Gailey said. “When you’re that bad, you’re having a pitiful day.”
The past three weeks the Bills have totaled for just two touchdowns.
Bad field position was a big factor to Buffalo’s dismal play having eight possessions starting from inside their twenty yard line. After scoring a field goal on the first series of the game, the Bills went 25 minutes without having a first down.
The Dolphins started of strong driving 87 yards on their first possession, capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight-end Anthony Fasano.
Miami then forced the Bills to punt, then struck again on their next series highlighted by a Matt Moore 46-yard completion to Charles Clay setting up a 5-yard rushing touchdown by running back Reggie Bush.
Nolan Carroll intercepted a pass the Bills very next series giving the Fish great field position on Buffalo’s 23 yard line. Moore than connected on 12 yard TD pass too Charles Clay for his first career touchdown reception.
Miami Safety Yeremiah Bell intercepted another pass late in the first half returning it the Bills 4 yard line. Matt Moore than hit receiver Devone Bess for with a 4-yard touchdown pass for a 28-3 lead heading into halftime.
“This is nice for the guys,” said coach Tony Sporano, whose team was the joke of the league olny three weeks ago. “They’re just worried about doing their job and trying to prove people wrong. They make me smile a little bit. I don’t know that I want to show that, though. They’ll think I’m getting soft. The Dolphins go for their fourth consecutive victory Thursday November 24th at Dallas. My pregame analysis will be out no later than Tuesday @ 11:59pm so stay tuned.